Blowtorch with continuously burning vaporizor and igniter



June 1, 1948. H. L. BAUM 2,442,394

BLOWTORCH WITH CONTINUQUSLY BURNING VAPORIZOR AND IGNITER Filed April 13, 1945 wwaimm v Patented June 1, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcr:

BLOWTORCH WITH CONTINUOUSLY BURN- ING vnromzoa AND IGNITER Horace L. Baum, St. Louis, Mo. Application April 13, 1945, Serial No. 588,164

7 Claims. .1

This invention relates to blowtorches and more particularly, to an alcohol blowtoreh.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved alcohol blowtorch.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved alcohol blowtorch of simple construction wherein improved means for developing and maintaining blast pressure within the torch is provided.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of an improved blowtorch in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the blowtorch of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the securin gland for the neck of the blowtorch ofFigure l.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the body portion of the blowtorch, Body portion I comprises a container divided into two compartments comprising an upper compartment 2 and a lower compartment 3. Each of the compartments is adapted to contain a supply of liquid fuel such as alcohol.

Secured to the top wall of body portion I and extending into compartment 2 is a curved rigid tube 4 of copper or similar heat-conducting material, terminating at its upper end in a hollow tip member 5. The securing means for tube 4 comprises a gland assembly consisting of a threaded bushing member 6 in threaded engagement with a boss 1 integral with or rigidly secured by welding, brazing or similar means to the top wall of body portion I. An appropriate bore is formed in boss I through which tube 4 passes, said tube also passing through bushing 6, as shown in Figure 3. A rigid washer 8 is provided under bushing 6 and a deformable annular gasket 9 is provided between washer 8 and the top surface of boss I. Tightening bushing 6 compresses gasket 9 to effectively seal tube 4 with respect to compartment 2.

A handle member lfl is-provided for the blowtorch, the lower end of said handle bein received in a bracket ll rigidly secured to body portion l, the upper end of said handle being formed with an annular portion providing an opening through which boss 1 is received, a nut l2 being threaded on to boss 1 to firmly secure the annular top portion of handle member ID to said boss.

Contained within tube 4 is a smaller tube 13 of copper or similar material, tube [3 being sur- 2 rounded by a fibre glass wicking sleeve I4. The lower end of tube l3 extends to a position slightly above the bottom of compartment 2, whereas the lower ends of tube 4 and sleeve l4 extend to a position a short distance above the lower end of tube l3, as shown in Figure 1. Thefuel level in compartment 2 is normally well. above, the lower ends of tube 4 and sleeve l4.

The upper ends of tube I3 and sleeve l4 extend into tip 5, said tip being formed with a restricted ifi '5. .A h n in F gu tu e 5 a propriately curved so that tip 5 and its orifice 15 are approximately horizontally directed.

Rigidly mounted on the top wall of body portion I under tube 4 is an inclined sleeve member I 6 formed with a short branch element l1. Communicating with the bore of sleeve I76 is an internal sleeve member I provided in compartment 2 and leading into compartment 3, A wick member I8 is provided in compartment 3, said wick member 13 passing upwardly through internal sleeve member l1 into inclined sleeve ,Inember it, said wick member being divided at its upper portion so that part thereof extends through sleeve It to the top open end of said sleeve 16 and the other part extends through short sleeve I! to the top open end of said short sleeve. A deflector shield i3 is pivotally secured to the top end of sleeve It for directing the flame from the wick into the fuel jet discharge from orifice l5.

Compartment 3 is filled with fuel by a filler plug .20 D Q ided in the. co ta er wel as owni Figures 1 and 2.

Compartment 2 is filled with fuel through boss 1, bushing 6 and tube 4 being removed during the refueling process.

To operate the blowtorch, the wick I8 is ignited at the top of tube l6 and tube H. The flame from tube l1 heats tube 4 and vaporizes the fuel which has been drawn by capillary action into fibre glass sleeve l4, causing a building up of pressure in compartment 2 which, combined with capillary action, forces fuel upwardly through small tube l3 and projects it out through restricted orifice I5. Said outwardly projected fuel forms a jet which is ignited by the flame from the top of sleeve IS. The discharge of vapor is considerably restricted by orifice l5 so that a substantial pressure may be built up in compartment 2. The refractory characteristics of fibre glass wick l4 prevent its ignition, and consequently no clogging of orifice [5 by products of combustion thereof occurs. This feature is highly advantageous, since in torches of the prior art the wicking dlslntegrates at the burner tip causing clogging of said tip and necessitates frequent dismantling of the burner for cleaning.

It is readily apparent that by pro-heating the vapor in the refractory sleeve in tube 4 vapor pressure is developed in compartment 2 which is self-maintained by the flame at the top of sleeve I1. It is thus unnecessary to pump air into the pressure chamber as is done in conventional blowtorches; I I

The size and temperature of the torch flame may be regulated by the use of burner tips having orifices of appropriate size, so that the jet pressure and quantity of fuel ejected may be adapted to the specific character of torch flame" desired.

While a specific embodiment of a blowtorch' has been described in the foregoing description, it

will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than'as'defined by the scope of the appended claims i 'What is claimed isf 1. A blowtorchcomprising a fuel container, a heat conducting conduit extending from said container and provided'at the end remote from said container-with a restricted orifice, 'a fuel feed tube contained within saidconduit and extending from adjacent said orificeinto said container below the fuel level therein, a wicking sleeve being provided on said fuel feed tube for a substantial portion of the length thereof and extending into the fuel-in the container, said wicking sleeve being of refractory material, and means for continuously heating said conduit during operation of'tl'ie-blowtorch.

-2. The structure ofclaim Land wherein said wicking sleeve ismade of glass fibre. a a

3'.-The structureof claim 1, and wherein said heating means comprises an auxiliary fuel container provided with a-burner positioned adjacent said conduit. a 1

41A blowtorch comprising a body portion containing a' first-fuel compartment and a second fuel compartment, a conduit of heat conducting material extendingfrom said first fuel compartmentand provided with-a restricted orifice at the end remote from said first fuel compartment, a fuelafeed tube contained within said conduit and. .extendingfromadjacent said orifice into said first fuelcompartment below the fuel level therein, a wicking sleeve of refractory material 4 provided on said fuel feed tube for a substantial portion of the length thereof and extending into the fuel in said first fuel compartment, and a burner on said body portion adjacent said conduit embodying an inclined sleeve member having a short-branch element communicating with said second fuel compartment, said short-branch element being adapted to provide a flame for continuously heating said conduit during operation of the blowtorch. I 1

5. The structure of claim 4, and wherein said I wicking sleeve is made of glass fibre.

6. The structure of claim 4, and wherein the topportion of the inclined sleeve member is adapted toprovide a flame at said restricted orifice,'means' being provided on the top portion of said inclined sleeve member for directing said flame.

'7: A'blowtorch comprising a body containing a first fuel compartment and a second fuel compartment, a conduit of heat conducting material extending from said first fuel compartment and provided witha restricted orifice at theend remote from said first fuel compartment, a fuel feed tube contained within said conduit and extending from adjacent said orifice into said'first fuel compartment below thefuel level therein, a wicking sleeve of refractory material between said conduit and fuel feed tube. and extending into said first fuel compartment, sealing means between said conduit and body, a handle connectedto saidsealing means and body, and a burner on said body adjacent said conduit and adapted to continuously heat-said, conduit during operationof the blowtorch.

HORACE L. BAUM,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 524,526 V Geiser Aug. 14, 1894 688,464 r Glud 1 Dec. 10, 1901 1,296,869 Snow Mar. 11,19l9 1,330,696 Folgman Feb. 10, 1920 1,393,706 Shannon Oct. 11, 1921 1,509,077 Folgman Sept. 16, 1924 1,911,509 Hofier 1 May 30, 1933 2,094,259 Brody 1 Sept. 28, 1937 2,188,460 LeVit Jan. 30, 1940 

